YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Texas FFA Week proclaims bright future for Texas agriculture

By Gene Hall

Forty-one years ago, I took off my blue and gold FFA jacket for the last time. It still hangs in my closet though I couldn’t zip it now. Like all of them, it has my name on the right breast, the FFA emblem on the left. Underneath my name is “State Vice President, 1973-74.” I’m still proud of that.

February 21 kicked off National FFA Week. We called it the Future Farmers of America. But few students of agricultural sciences actually became farmers so it was changed to simply “FFA.”

It’s still about agriculture, but a LOT more. It’s the first exposure for many to the skills of parliamentary procedure and the discipline of showing livestock. Agriculture means opportunity for young folks and FFA is great preparation.

I did not return to the farm. I am an ag communicator. FFA may no longer be “Future Farmers of America.” But it’s very much about the future.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

Media outlets: This content may be used without further permission.